Central State Conference

Last updated

The Central State Conference is a former high school athletic conference in central Wisconsin, in operation from 1962 to 1984. Its member schools were affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

1962-1970

Central State Conference
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
30km
19miles
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Location of Original Central-C Conference Members

The Central State Conference, originally known as the Central-C Conference, was formed in 1962 by eight small- to medium-sized public high schools and one private Catholic high school in central Wisconsin. Five schools were former members of the Central Lakes Conference (Almond, Necedah, Oxford, Port Edwards and Wild Rose), three belonged to the 7-C Conference (Adams-Friendship, Tri-County and Westfield) and one formerly competed as an independent (Madonna). [1] Almost immediately, the conference began to lose members to rural school district consolidation and closings. The first such change occurred in 1963, when Oxford was closed [2] and its students were redistricted to Westfield. In 1966, conference membership was cut in half due to the closing of Madonna High School [3] and the defection of three schools (Adams-Friendship, Tri-County and Westfield) to the newly formed Vacationland Conference. [4] Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia joined as football-only members from the Central Wisconsin Conference the next year to bring the football roster to five schools. [5] In 1968, Bowler joined the conference from the Wolf River Valley Conference as a football-only member, [6] and the loop changed its name to the Central State Conference. [7] Rosholt and Tigerton joined the football alignment the next year, and the conference had eight football-playing members. [8]

1970-1984

Central State Conference
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
30km
19miles
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Transparent square.svg
Location of Central State Conference Members (1970-1977)

In 1970, the Central State Conference underwent a significant expansion with six schools becoming full members. All five football-only members became full members of the conference: three from the shuttered Wolf River Valley Conference (Bowler, Rosholt and Tigerton) and two from the Central Wisconsin Conference (Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia). Tri-County, making their return after the dissolution of the Vacationland Conference, rounded out the expanded group. [9] Granton and Gresham would join the Central State Conference in 1972; Granton was previously in the Marawood Conference and Gresham competed as an independent for two years after the collapse of the Wolf River Valley Conference. [10] Granton's stay would be brief, as they would return to the Marawood Conference in 1976. [11] Shiocton moved over from the Central Wisconsin Conference in 1977 to take their place, [12] and Necedah left to become a charter member of the Scenic Bluffs Conference in 1979. They were replaced by Menominee Indian High School, who acquired their first ever conference affiliation after opening a few years earlier. [13] The Central State Conference merged with the Central Wisconsin Conference in 1984, taking the more established conference's name in the process. [14]

Conference membership history

Full members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Adams-Friendship Adams, WI Public432Green Devils  1962 [1] 1966 [4] Vacationland South Central
Almond-Bancroft Almond, WI Public109Eagles  1962 [1] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Madonna Mauston, WI Private (Catholic)N/ACowboys  1962 [1] 1966 [3] Closed
Necedah Necedah, WI Public213Cardinals  1962 [1] 1979 [13] Scenic Bluffs
Oxford Oxford, WI PublicN/ABluejays  1962 [1] 1963 [2] Closed (consolidated with Westfield)
Port Edwards Port Edwards, WI Public133Blackhawks  1962 [1] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Tri-County Plainfield, WI Public176Penguins  1962, [1] 1970 [9] 1966, [4] 1984 [14] Vacationland, Central Wisconsin Central Wisconsin
Westfield Westfield, WI Public295Pioneers  1962 [1] 1966 [4] Vacationland South Central
Wild Rose Wild Rose, WI Public153Wildcats  1962 [1] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Amherst Amherst, WI Public344Falcons  1970 [9] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Bowler Bowler, WI Public100Panthers  1970 [9] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Iola-Scandinavia Iola, WI Public197Thunderbirds  1970 [9] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Rosholt Rosholt, WI Public176Hornets  1970 [9] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Tigerton Tigerton, WI Public75Tigers  1970 [9] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Granton Granton, WI Public62Bulldogs  1972 [10] 1976 [11] Marawood Cloverbelt
Gresham Gresham, WI Public82Wildcats  1972 [10] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Shiocton Shiocton, WI Public221Chiefs  1977 [12] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin
Menominee Indian Kesīqnaeh, WI Federal (Tribal)349Eagles  1979 [13] 1984 [14] Central Wisconsin

Football-only members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsSeasonsPrimary Conference
Amherst Amherst, WI Public344Falcons  1967-1969 [5] Central Wisconsin
Iola-Scandinavia Iola, WI Public197Thunderbirds  1967-1969 [5] Central Wisconsin
Bowler Bowler, WI Public100Panthers  1968-1969 [6] Wolf River Valley
Rosholt Rosholt, WI Public176Hornets  1969 [8] Wolf River Valley
Tigerton Tigerton, WI Public75Tigers  1969 [8] Wolf River Valley

Membership timeline

Full members

Central State Conference

Football members

Central State Conference

List of state champions

Fall sports

None

Winter sports

Girls Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Iola-Scandinavia1978Class C

Spring sports

Girls Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Wild Rose1978Class C
Wild Rose1979Class C

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Port Edwards81967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1978, 1979
Iola-Scandinavia51972, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984
Almond-Bancroft21967, 1980
Necedah21974, 1977
Westfield21964, 1966
Adams-Friendship11965
Amherst11981
Granton11975
Gresham11977
Madonna11963
Wild Rose11976
Bowler0
Menominee Indian0
Oxford0
Rosholt0
Shiocton0
Tigerton0
Tri-County0

Girls Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Iola-Scandinavia61974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983
Almond-Bancroft51979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984
Port Edwards11978
Tri-County11980
Amherst0
Bowler0
Granton0
Gresham0
Menominee Indian0
Necedah0
Rosholt0
Shiocton0
Tigerton0
Wild Rose0

Football

SchoolQuantityYears
Port Edwards101962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1982, 1983
Iola-Scandinavia41967, 1974, 1975, 1978
Shiocton41979, 1980, 1981, 1983
Wild Rose41967, 1974, 1976, 1977
Westfield31963, 1964, 1965
Rosholt21977, 1981
Tri-County21973, 1981
Amherst11977
Madonna11963
Adams-Friendship0
Almond-Bancroft0
Bowler0
Necedah0
Tigerton0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Central-C Conference Is Formed". The Capital Times. January 25, 1962. p. 20. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Oxford To Lose High School; May Seek Attachment Here". Wisconsin Dells Events. December 13, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Madonna High At Mauston To Be Closed". La Crosse Tribune. May 16, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "New Vacationland Loop To Set Up Constitution". La Crosse Tribune. March 15, 1965. p. 11. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "Port Enters New Grid Conference". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. November 22, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "9 starters return, form nucleus of Port eleven". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. September 5, 1968. p. 5. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  7. "Central C League Now Central State". Stevens Point Journal. April 3, 1968. p. 16. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Coach sees rebuilding season for Blackhawks". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. September 3, 1969. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Port to join 10-school conference next year". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. September 12, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 "CSC Admits Two New for 1971-72". Stevens Point Journal. November 22, 1971. p. 14. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Papers, Apaches shifted to Lumberjack". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. June 27, 1975. p. 6. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Shiocton okays sports plan". Appleton Post-Crescent. February 17, 1976. p. 3. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 McGinn, Bob (February 9, 1978). "Realignment Generally Accepted". Green Bay Press-Gazette. pp. C-5. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Prep conferences realigned". Green Bay Press-Gazette. April 29, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved December 23, 2024.